Controllers: Adlink introduces PACwiz with IEC 61131-3 support

Automation applications get support for 256 axes of distributed motion control and up to 2,016 points of distributed I/O.

Renee Robbins

03/04/2010

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Adlink Technology, Inc. has released its first programmable automation controller (PAC) solutions for automation applications using the IEC 61131-3 programming standard. PACwiz provides automation application developers a platform with full compatibility with IEC 61131-3 syntaxes, including the five programmable logic controller (PLC) programming language standards.

With PACwiz, PLC users can easily upgrade to a PAC platform without further training, says Ethan Huang, senior product director. "PACs are now becoming the mainstream solution for automation controllers by providing better performance and flexibility [and] by supporting low-cost PC peripherals such as RAM, CompactFlash, Ethernet, and standard monitors," he explains.

"The platform provides distributed motion control of up to 256 axes and distributed I/O of up to 2,016 points, which are time-deterministic," says Huang. "This not only allows configuration of the entire motion profile and I/O topology based on application requirements, but also allows for flexible wiring configurations which simplify and reduce wiring costs between modules by 20% through the use of standard Ethernet cables."

There are two systems in the PACwiz series : open (PACwiz-MXC) and closed (PACwiz-DPAC). The "open" PACwiz-MXC system is designed using Adlink's fanless expandable platform (via PCI and PCIe slots) and is powered by an Intel Atom N270 1.6 GHz processor. It is designed to operate as an I/O controller integrated with I/O and/or distributed motion modules (HSL and Motionnet modules), while providing the flexibility to add other modules, such as a frame grabber.

The "closed" PACwiz-DPAC embedded system is designed using Adlink's compact and fanless distributed PAC with built-in distributed motion and I/O control solutions using Motionnet and HSL buses. Both PACwiz systems are available now.

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